RB coach Kirby Wilson says a fullback will change Cardinals offense

The Arizona Cardinals will have a fullback in their new offensive system under offensive coordinator Mike McCoy. Previously, under Bruce Arians, anytime a fullback was needed, the team would send an offensive lineman or a tight end to play the role.

Arizona has veteran Derrick Coleman and also converted running back Elijhaa Penny. According to running backs coach Kirby Wilson, who has coached fullbacks in every stint he has had the position, having one changes an offense. Running back David Johnson should also benefit.

“What that means is when a good fullback takes the field, the tempo, the physicality picks up,” Wilson said, via ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss. “As a runner, you have to know how to use a person like that. David’s had that some in his past, obviously in college. . . A fullback brings violence to the game, he brings mayhem, he brings destruction, and those are the things that make a defense a little bit soft over time, if you got a good one. And David will learn to use that type of person again as the system evolves and we get into minicamp, training camp, preseason, etc., and then regular season. I think it’ll be a good thing for him.”

Wilson believes both Coleman and Penny are “going to be good.”

Coach Steve Wilks wants to have a strong running attack. He wants a physical team. Having a fullback helps with that identity.

Wilson believes a fullback aids with play-action passes as well.

The fans will not get to see the offense in action until training camp at the end of July. They will get their first look in a game in the preseason.

It is one of the great unknowns for the upcoming season Just what will the offense look like? One thing is for certain — there will be a fullback.